For Immediate Release: National Academy of Public Administration Announces Appointment of James-Christian Blockwood as President and CEO

Post Date: September 30, 2024

National Academy of Public Administration Announces Appointment of James-Christian Blockwood as President and CEO

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The National Academy of Public Administration (the Academy) announced today the appointment of James-Christian B. Blockwood as its next President and Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2025. Blockwood is a Fellow of the Academy, an experienced nonprofit executive, and former career senior executive in the federal government. He will succeed Terry Gerton, the Academy’s longest-serving leader, who ends her eight-year term later this year.

“In our search for our next President and CEO, the Board of the Academy was looking for a combination of broad and deep experience in public administration, outstanding leadership skills, and a demonstrated commitment to the Academy’s unique role and mission” said Janet A. Weiss, Academy Board Chair. “Terry Gerton has been an extraordinary leader for the Academy and in James-Christian Blockwood we have identified a leader we believe will build on Terry’s legacy, the reputation of the Academy and our capacities for the future.”

Stan Soloway, the Vice Chair of the Academy Board who also chaired the Search Committee, said that Blockwood “emerged from an extensive and intensive search process in which we had the challenge of selecting among an exceptional cohort of candidates. We are delighted that he has agreed to come on board and excited about what this means for the future of the Academy.”

As one of only two Congressionally chartered institutions of its kind, the Academy has an important mandate to advance the field of public administration and provide nonpartisan expertise to Congress and the next presidential administration during a critical time in the nation’s history.

The Academy has 1,000 Fellows from all levels of government, academia, and the private sector, ready and capable of advising lawmakers and administrators on the challenges facing the country. Fellows include public managers and scholars, business executives, current and former cabinet officers, members of Congress, governors, state legislators, and diplomats. The Academy is committed to building an efficient, effective government that works for every American.

“It was an honor to be elected a Fellow of the Academy nearly ten years ago, and now a privilege to have the confidence of the Board of Directors to lead the Academy into its next era—especially with the Academy's 60th and our Nation’s 250th anniversaries as milestones ahead," Blockwood said. "I am proud to have the opportunity to work with our extraordinary Fellows and the entire Academy staff.”

Most recently, Blockwood served as Executive Vice President at the Partnership for Public Service where he oversaw its programs and the organization’s strategic planning efforts. Notably, he was a strong advocate for nonpartisanship, helped establish new institutional capabilities and led during a period of transformational growth. Previously, he served in the U.S. Government Accountability Office and the departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs. He is also an adjunct professor at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

The Search Committee conducted a national search in partnership with Koya Partners, the executive search firm focused on working with mission-driven clients.

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About the National Academy of Public Administration:

The National Academy of Public Administration is an independent nonprofit and nonpartisan organization established in 1967, and chartered by Congress to assist government leaders in building more effective, efficient, accountable, and transparent organizations.